Poole makes history as 768th mayor is elected

The traditional event also saw Councillor Lindsay Wilson as Sheriff and last year’s mayor Councillor Ann Stribley elected deputy mayor.

This is the first time in Poole’s history that all three key civic roles have been held by women in the same year.

The new mayor of Poole has chosen to support three projects for her mayoral year; Chestnut Nursery, Waggy Tails Dog Rescue and Lewis-Manning Hospice.

Cllr Dion’s duties as mayor include chairing all meetings of the full council, overseeing citizenship ceremonies for people becoming British citizens in Poole, and representing residents as their ambassador at the many functions she will attend in her mayoral year.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Dion, said: “I am delighted and very proud to be taking up this historic office for Poole, the town in which I grew up. I believe the role of mayor should be more proactive in bringing benefit to local people in some way and to this end I have chosen three key themes where I will be working hardest to make things happen – health and wellbeing, business and enterprise and raising Poole’s profile.”

Cllr Dion was first elected to the council in 2003 and has previously held cabinet portfolios for transportation, environment, economic development and culture and learning services. She was instrumental in bringing European Maritime Day to Poole in 2017 and continues to work hard to support the preparations.

In addition to her council role, Cllr Dion also works within the National Health Service as a specialist public health practitioner in health visiting and community development.

Cllr Dion’s husband, Bryan, will serve as mayor’s escort for the coming year.

The newly-appointed Sheriff of Poole, Cllr Lindsay Wilson, will support the mayor with her civic duties and responsibilities. She has served as a councillor for the Newtown ward since 2015, previously being councillor for the Alderney ward since 2004. Poole is one of just 15 local authorities in the country to elect a sheriff.